This news may come as as a nasty shock to Wall Street (which is used to sweet-talking regulators into getting what it wants) but to us, it is a very pleasant and welcome surprise: The Department of Justice today filed a civil antitrust lawsuit to block AT&T Inc.’s proposed acquisition of T‑Mobile USA Inc. The […]
Monthly Archives: August 2011
Posted inPolicy Topics, Technology
Steve Jobs resigns as CEO of Apple
The man who cofounded Apple and led its remarkable turnaround, beginning in the late 1990s, announced this afternoon in a short, plainly-worded letter that he was resigning as Apple’s chief executive officer, presumably due to his health: To the Apple Board of Directors and the Apple Community: I have always said if there ever came […]
Posted inPolicy Topics, Public Planning
Earthquake strikes near D.C.: Nation’s capital gets a taste of a major hazard we live with
An hour ago, a significant earthquake struck near one of the United States’ most populated areas, causing minor damage, disrupting travel, and prompting evacuations of buildings. But unusually, the populated area that this quake affected was not in California, or on the Left Coast, or even west of the Rocky Mountains, where earthquakes are an […]
Posted inEconomic Security, Policy Topics
NO on I‑1183 campaign gets big boost from Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America
The effort to protect Washington State from Costco’s newest liquor privatization scheme (Initiative 1183, which will be in the November ballot) has just received a massive resource boost from a powerful national trade organization. Last week, the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America wrote Protect Our Communities (the campaign to defeat I‑1183) a series of […]
Posted inPolicy Topics, Public Planning
New coastal radar now online near Copalis Beach; local meteorologists thrilled
Thanks to the tireless efforts of our two U.S. Senators — particularly our junior senator, Maria Cantwell — the Pacific Northwest finally has a state-of-the-art Doppler radar station located on the coast, capable of assisting meteorologists in preparing more accurate and useful forecasts for our region. The radar station, which has been undergoing construction since […]
Posted inElections
Winnowing election update: Not many ballots tabulated today; little to report
It looks like the turnout in the August 2011 winnowing election has crested. In the days following election night, we saw steady improvement in the ratio of ballots cast to registered voters. But the numbers hardly changed at all today. On Friday, the turnout ratio in the King County Council District #6 race was 30.37%. […]
Posted inElections
End of the week numbers are in for August winnowing election: Mitchell still gaining
Good afternoon! King County Elections has opted to update results for the 2011 winnowing election a bit early today — so, happily, we’re able to break down new numbers sooner than we otherwise would have. In the contest for King County Council, District #6, Richard Mitchell continues to climb… and Jane Hague continues to slide. Mitchell […]
Posted inElections
Elizabeth Warren forms exploratory committee to consider U.S. Senate bid
In a move that is sure to brighten the spirits of progressives across the United States, consumer protection advocate and respected law professor Elizabeth Warren has announced that she is forming an exploratory committee to consider running for U.S. Senate in Massachusetts as a Democrat: “I think this was always part of the plan,” said […]
Posted inElections
Richard Mitchell again widens lead in county council race; John Creighton admits defeat
Less than an hour ago, King County Elections updated unofficial results for the August 16th winnowing election with a batch of freshly-tabulated ballots. The new numbers confirm that Richard Mitchell will be moving on to the general election with Jane Hague in the 6th County Council district race, as we projected yesterday. Here’s how the […]
Posted inElections
Richard Mitchell solidifies lead over John Creighton, will move on to general election
Moments ago, King County Elections updated last night’s returns to reflect newly tabulated ballots. The updated figures show Democrat Richard Mitchell gaining ground in the contest for King County Council District #6, with all of his rivals — incumbent Republican Jane Hague included — losing ground. Mitchell’s percentage of the vote went from 27.87% to […]
Posted inPolicy Topics, Public Planning
Seattle decisively votes to bless construction of deep-bore tunnel for State Route 99
The State of Washington’s project to replace the aging, crumbling Alaskan Way Viaduct has just received its final political green light. After enduring several months of debates, forums, and advertisements, Seattle voters have resoundingly chosen to bless the construction of a deep bore tunnel under downtown. Early returns indicate a landslide victory for Let’s Move Forward, […]
Posted inElections, Live Coverage
Richard Mitchell, Jane Hague emerge as finalists for King County Council District #6
Tonight, voters ended a lively four-way contest for a battleground county council district by sending the oldest candidate (a well known incumbent who has served several terms) and the youngest candidate (a first time office-seeker) on to the general election for a November matchup. In the returns just released by King County Elections, Republican Jane […]
Posted inEconomic Security, Elections, Policy Topics
Today is Election Day: Don’t forget to vote!
Today is winnowing election day across Washington State. Although it’s possible that you’re one of our readers who lives in a jurisdiction where there is nothing on the ballot (and thus there is no ballot), chances are, you were sent a ballot with at least one contest on it. Please don’t forget to take your […]
Posted inEconomic Security, Policy Topics
Warren Buffett scolds the D.C. establishment: “Stop coddling the super-rich”
Warren Buffett, one of the wealthiest men in the world and one of the U.S.‘s most successful investors, has a must-read guest column in the New York Times this morning which takes America’s political leadership to task for not asking the nation’s wealthiest families to pay their fair share in membership dues to our country. […]